Hospital Infection Control & Prevention – October 1, 2010
October 1, 2010
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Money talks: CMS continues bold move into infection prevention
In the latest move in its dramatically expanding oversight of health care associated infection (HAI) programs, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is calling for hospitals to report central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) to ensure full reimbursement for care. With several infection-control initiatives underway, CMS is lining -
Use CMS regs to bring leaders into program
Infection preventionists should make sure their administrative leaders are aware in a collegial, non-confrontational way of course that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires top-level support for infection control programs, advises Connie Steed, RN, BSN, CIC, manager of infection control at the Greenville (SC) Hospital System. -
New CMS chief targets infections
"I have climbed Mount Rainier five times. Each time I made that tough trek, my risk of dying was about 100 times smaller than the risk I will face on the operating table." Don Berwick, director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) -
HIC Exclusive: A Q&A with the CMS
In response to repeated requests for interviews and information, the Centers for Medicare Services (CMS) agreed to take written questions by Hospital Infection Control & Prevention and circulate them within the agency for answers. -
SHEA: Time to mandate flu shots for HCWs
Influenza vaccination of healthcare personnel is a professional and ethical responsibility and non-compliance with healthcare facility policies regarding vaccination should not be tolerated, argues the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA). -
Sharps safety must be mandated as well?
If you want employees to comply with sharps safety, then their supervisors have to require it. That is a strong message that emerged from a survey of paramedics related to bloodborne pathogen exposures. -
The Joint Commission Update for Infection Control: News 'flash': JC, key groups get on same page on 'immediate-use steam sterilization'
Meeting with key stakeholders and sterilization groups, the Joint Commission is nearing a landmark consensus position on the long-confusing issue of "flash" sterilization.